Backen Consulting

What Backen Consulting does

Backen Consulting is a boutique energy consulting firm headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon, operating in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Founded by Principal Dave Backen, the firm specializes in designing, launching, and implementing energy efficiency programs for energy sector organizations including utilities, program administrators, and government entities. The company is certified by the Oregon Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) as an Emerging Small Business, a designation that provides preferential access to government and utility contracting opportunities.

The firm's service offering comprises three interconnected lines: Market Actor Engagement (stakeholder coordination among utilities, regulators, businesses, and consumers), Program Design and Management (end-to-end needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of energy efficiency initiatives), and Trade Ally-Driven Programs (partnership-based delivery involving contractors, distributors, and manufacturers with financial incentives and technical training). There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery relies on the domain expertise and relationships of Dave Backen and a small team.

Backen Consulting operates a sales-led, professional services revenue model with customized, quote-based engagements delivered under multi-year contracts. The go-to-market is predominantly direct, with Dave Backen personally leading client relationships, supplemented by partnerships (notably with Energy 350 on the Energy Trust of Oregon Program Management Contract) and content marketing via the firm's blog and LinkedIn presence. At approximately five employees, the firm is founder-owned, privately held, and has no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Backen Consulting

Legal name

Backen Consulting

Website

https://backenconsulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Backen Consulting is a Wilsonville, Oregon-based boutique energy consulting firm serving utilities and government entities with program design, market actor engagement, and trade ally-driven energy efficiency implementation services, leveraging COBID Emerging Small Business certification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilsonville, Oregon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Energy Consulting Services: Consulting fees for expert guidance on navigating the energy sector sustainably, including advice, program design, and implementation support. Services are customized to client needs and delivered with flexibility in delivery and services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Backen Consulting is a boutique energy consulting firm that designs, launches, and implements energy efficiency programs for utilities, government agencies, and energy sector organizations. Its service portfolio spans Market Actor Engagement (stakeholder coordination across businesses, investors, consumers, and regulators), Program Design and Management (end-to-end program planning, technology assessment, financial planning, implementation, and reporting), and Trade Ally-Driven Programs (partner-led implementation with financial incentives, technical training, and resources). Services are customized per client and delivered personally by founder Dave Backen.

Product overview

Backen Consulting is a boutique energy consulting firm offering advisory and implementation services for energy efficiency programs. The company provides three interconnected consulting service lines: Market Actor Engagement (stakeholder coordination and market facilitation), Program Design and Management (end-to-end program development and delivery), and Trade Ally-Driven Programs (partner-led implementation of efficiency initiatives). Services are delivered by founder Dave Backen and are customized to each client's needs, with flexibility in delivery models.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Market Actor Engagement Consulting service that facilitates involvement and interaction of various stakeholders and participants within energy markets — including businesses, investors, consumers, regulators, and other relevant parties — to promote transparency, fair competition, and efficient market operations through communication, collaboration, and cooperation among market actors.
• Program Design and Management Consulting service covering the planning, development, and coordination of energy efficiency initiatives, including needs assessment, program planning, stakeholder engagement, technology assessment, financial planning, implementation and monitoring, and evaluation and reporting.
• Trade Ally-Driven Programs Partnership programs in which partner companies actively implement energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives, involving contractors, distributors, manufacturers, and other energy efficiency service providers with financial incentives, technical training, and resources to help companies adopt efficiency measures.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple successful program deliveries including AESP Flexible Load Adaption Training and Energy Trust PMC contract

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Energy 350coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy 350 was awarded the Program Management Contract for Industry and Agriculture Program Management and Delivery by Energy Trust of Oregon. Dave Backen is part of the multiple COBID-certified (DEI) team members that Energy 350 assembled for this PMC bid. The partnership brings together a highly integrated team with strong understanding of program history, market dynamics, and Energy Trust needs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• DNV (Energy): Global assurance and consulting firm with a large energy practice covering renewables, efficiency, and grid services. Competes for utility program evaluation and advisory work in adjacent segments.
• CLEAResult: Largest pure-play energy efficiency program design and implementation firm in North America. Competes for the same utility and government program management contracts Backen targets, with much greater scale and geographic reach.
• Resource Innovations: National energy efficiency and decarbonization consulting firm delivering program design, implementation, and evaluation services to utilities and state agencies. Overlaps directly with Backen's three service lines.
• TRC Companies: Engineering and consulting firm with an energy efficiency and demand-side management practice delivering program implementation for utilities. Competes for similar PMC and trade ally program work.
• ICF International: Major advisory and digital services firm with a dedicated energy, environment, and infrastructure practice serving utilities and federal agencies. A direct competitor for DOE and utility program management work.
• Guidehouse (formerly Navigant): Global consulting firm with deep energy practice covering utility program strategy, evaluation, and implementation. Competes for high-end program design and market assessment engagements.
• Energy Solutions: Energy efficiency and demand-side management consultancy serving utilities, governments, and NGOs across program design, implementation, and policy. Direct overlap with Backen's market actor engagement and program design services.

Direct peers

• Apex Analytics: Boutique energy efficiency consulting firm specializing in program evaluation, market research, and impact analysis for utilities and program administrators. Comparable in scale and customer base to Backen.
• Opinion Dynamics Corporation: Energy program evaluation, market research, and consulting firm serving utilities and energy efficiency program administrators. Comparable boutique scale with similar public-sector/utility customer mix.
• Energy 350: Energy efficiency consulting firm that Backen partners with as a subcontracted COBID-certified team member on the Energy Trust of Oregon PMC. Closest functional peer — same target clients, same service lines (program design, market engagement, trade ally programs).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/backen-consulting

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Backen Consulting